Analysis by an industry leader has examined how the type of borrower affects the likelihood of a mortgage default

Investor lending has grown at its strongest pace in five months, new statistics reveal, just after APRA warned it will act soon on bank capital requirements.

Lending to investors increased by 0.9% over March, according to statistics compiled by the Reserve Bank of Australia, which is the strongest monthly growth since October 2014. Meanwhile, lending to investors over the year to March has surged 10.4%, the largest yearly growth since February 2008.

The figures come just after APRA chairman Wayne Byres warned that the regulator will be acting “sooner rather than later” on increasing bank capital requirements, recommended in David Murray’s Financial Systems Inquiry.

“Further reforms to bank capital requirements are in the pipeline, emanating both from the FSI and the Basel Committee,” Byres said at the AFR Banking & Wealth Summit in Sydney on Wednesday.

“While we want to deal with the various proposals in an orderly manner, I’ve made the point elsewhere that we do not need to wait for every i to be dotted and t to be crossed in the international work before we turn our minds to an appropriate response to the FSI’s recommendations.

“Some – such as Recommendations 2 (mortgage risk weights) and 4 (international capital comparisons) – seem able to be dealt with sooner rather than later. We’ll have more to say on these issues shortly, but with continued sensible capital planning the industry is well-placed to accommodate them.”

“Given the currently very strong growth in investor lending, supervisors will be particularly alert to plans for rapid growth in this part of the portfolio. For example, annual investor credit growth materially above a benchmark of 10% will be an important risk indicator that supervisors will take into account when reviewing ADIs’ residential mortgage risk profile and considering supervisory actions,” Byres wrote in a letter to ADIs.

Therefore, as statistics reveal that investor lending continues to head north of 10%, banks may indeed find APRA acting sooner rather than later on tougher capital requirements.

COMMENTS

by David1/05/2015 8:49:30 AM

The sharemarkets keeps growing because of compulsory super maybe we need to change that it could've dangerous . It is ridiculous to stop people choosing how they want to invest their money.

by JB1/05/2015 9:46:16 AM

Clearly then, investment demand must be curbed. First home buyer demand already stifled as high LVR loans have slumped amidst concern about property values. Sharemarkets chasing new highs seen as risky following the downturn in commodities & lack of business confidence. Now that we are paralysed with fear, let's have another interest rate cut to encourage spending then.

by Maria Rigoni1/05/2015 10:47:26 AM

APRA and the Guru financial regulators need to go to money school! Their action is nothing but a public statement of HUFF 'N PUFF behind closed doors they let the Big Four do anything they want!